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Monday, January 27, 2014

Four preachers met for a friendly gathering. During the conversation one preacher said, "Our people come to us and pour out their hears, confess certain sins and needs. Let's do the same. Confession is good for the soul." In due time all agreed. One confessed he liked to go to movies and would sneak off when away from his church. The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars and the third one confessed to liking to play cards. When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn't confess. The others pressed him saying, "Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret or vice?" Finally he answered, "It is gossiping and I can hardly wait to get out of here."

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Those whom
God has chosen to salvation by Christ, are those whom God specially loves in
this world. They are the jewels among mankind. He cares more for them than for
kings on their thrones, if kings are not converted. He hears their prayers. He
orders all the events of nations and the issues of wars for their good, and
their sanctification. He keeps them by His Spirit. He allows neither man nor
devil to pluck them out of His hand. Whatever tribulation comes on the world,
God’s elect are safe. May we never rest until we know that we are of this
blessed number! There breathes not the man or woman who can prove that he is
not one. The promises of the Gospel are open to all. May we give diligence to
make our calling and election sure! God’s elect are a people who cry unto Him
night and day. When Paul saw the faith, and hope, and love of the
Thessalonians, then he knew “their election of God.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4; Luke
18:7.)

Thursday, January 16, 2014

This morning my Bible reading included Genesis 43-45. Most of us are familiar with the story of Joseph. Joseph's mother died during his youngest brother's delivery. He was born late in the life of his father. His father spoiled him making him is favorite which caused his brothers to hate him.As a matter of fact they hated him so much that one day they plotted to to kill him. When Reuben prevailed upon his brothers not to kill Joseph he was thrown into a deep pit. Joseph was then sold to a traveling company of Ishmaelites who were traveling from Gilead to Egypt.While in Eqypt he was falsely accused of attempted rape and thrown into prison. In prison he interpreted the dreams of two high level government personnel of whom he begged to be remembered in order to be released from prison. We know that they "forgot" Joseph and did not remember him to the King and he remained in prison for another two years.Many are familiar with Jospeh's "famous" statement recorded in Genesis 50:20, "...as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20, NKJV). I have quoted this a number times and I have prayed it a number of times when I faced great difficulties. I have thought of Joseph and his situation even as I wept broken hearted from the trials I was experiencing. But, I read this morning Genesis 43-45 and I was absolutely "arrested" when I came to 45:5-8. Joseph's attitude almost choked the life right out of me. Allow me to summarize it:

Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers

Joseph wept for joy and love as he spoke with them

Joseph asked for news and information about his father

Now, listen to him as he talks to his brothers:

First, he tells them "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt."

Second, "but...do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here." Notice what Joseph says next:

"...for God sent me before you to preserve life." Joseph is telling his brothers, whom he could be extremely angry at and could have them killed, don't be angry at yourselves. You thought you sent me to Eqypt, but you really didn't, God sent me here - and for a purpose.

Then again in verse 8 Joseph says, "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God..." As I type this my eyes have filled with tears, my throat is dry, and my heart, well my heart, what can I say.

Deprived of his mother, growing up with an aged father, rejected by his brothers, treated roughly and rudely, thrown in a pit, threatened with murder, sold as a slave, falsely accused of attempted rape, thrown in prison, stabbed in the back, and "my brothers, don't be mad at yourselves, you didn't send me to this fate, God did?

If only I could ever come to have such insight in God's glorious and sovereign character and to be able to view the few petty transgressions against me as Joseph did.

This is a very unusual historical writing. The author did not actually
write or complete this autobiography in his life time. From his own words in
the publishers preface, Spurgeon would write “something” and then say to the
effect, “Here is another part for my autobiography.” It was until sometime
after his death that his wife and publishers compiled Spurgeon’s various
writings, completed the unfinished parts, and published his story.

Therefore it is very difficult, at least for me to determine the purpose
of the writer for this biography. We do know that Spurgeon was passionate about the
God whom he served, the gospel that he preached, and the ministry that he rendered.
Spurgeon was careful to steer any glory from himself and on to our Lord. If
there were a purpose I think we would be safe in concluding that he wrote the
story of his life and ministry for the glory of God.

Many would say that the theme of his biography, or the main subject would be
Spurgeon himself. As I read these two volumes I discovered that the theme was
similar to the theme of what we call The
Acts of the Apostles. The theme of that narrative of course is “the Holy
Spirit” or “the acts of the Holy Spirit.” This would hold true to these two volumes, the theme is the works of God through the life and ministry of Charles
H Spurgeon.

The Thesis of the autobiography can be discerned from the jacket covesr, “He
worshipped Him; he adored Him. He was our Lord’s captive. Whatever Spurgeon did
he did it for Christ, and this is his controlling aim in his autobiography
which, in a natural way, leads our eyes from his service to the Savior he
served…” Jesus Christ is to be worshipped and glorified in all that we do!

Spurgeon developed his theme in his own personal words, experiences, and
understanding. Spurgeon developed his theme primary with narration sprinkled
often with humorous and homespun descriptive commentary. Spurgeon often gave
background, details, and information to tell his “tale” complete his purpose,
and to benefit the reader.

Spurgeon’s wife and certainly the publishers took great pain and liberty
to place most of his autobiography in a semi-chronological order. According to
the publisher’s Spurgeon did not write chronologically but as ideas, thoughts,
events, and such came to him.

This biography is extremely interesting. They give the reader great insight
into this great man of the past. It is easy to see almost all sides of this
preacher, soul-winner, pastor, author, and Christ-servant. The reader will find
much humor of the author along with moments and events that broke his heart.

This biography is filled with the child-hood and rearing of Spurgeon. It gives
much information about his conversion, calling, and confirmation in the
ministry. Volume one covers the years 1834-1859 and volume two covers the
period of 1869-1892.

Charles Haddon (C.H.)
Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was a British Particular Baptist
preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various
denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers".
He was a strong figure in the Reformed Baptist tradition, defending the Church
in agreement with the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith understanding,
and opposing the liberal and pragmatic theological tendencies in the Church of
his day.

It is estimated that in
his lifetime, Spurgeon preached to around 10,000,000 people. Spurgeon was the
pastor of the congregation of the New Park Street Chapel (later the
Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years. He was part of several
controversies with the Baptist Union of Great Britain and later had to leave
the denomination. In 1857, he started a charity organization which is now
called Spurgeon's and works globally. He also founded Spurgeon's College, which
was named after him posthumously.

Spurgeon was a prolific
author of many types of works including sermons, an autobiography,
commentaries, and books on prayer, devotionals, magazines, poetry, hymns and
more. Many sermons were transcribed as he spoke and were translated into many
languages during his lifetime. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Each volume contains several black and white illustrations. The
layout is easy to read. The font type is of normal size and is modern. The book
contains a subject index. There are no footnotes nor endnotes.

I highly recommend these two volumes. They were both a joy to read
and I found them to be both stimulating and interesting. I learned a lot of
this great man of God.

Friday, January 10, 2014

This
added assertion that there is no darkness in God, not even the tiniest or
minutest speck of darkness stresses the absoluteness of His nature as pure and
holy light.

In
God’s being there is not a single trace of darkness.

Keep
this in mind, that John never implies that the darkness is simply the absence
of light. John believes that darkness has a moral quality. This moral quality
that defines darkness is in direct opposition to the moral character and
quality of God.

This might not mean much to
you but to the pagans and especially the Gnostics, this was a startling
statement.

George
G. Findlay wrote:

“They [he means the Romans and Greeks] had
gods that could cheat and lie, gods licentious and unchaste, gods spiteful and
malignant towards men, quarrelsome and abusive toward each other. They had been
accustomed to think of the Godhead as a mixed nature like their own, only on a
larger scale-good and evil and cruel, pure and wanton, made of darkness and
light.” [1]

When
men create their own god they create them in their own image. So the gods of
men condone evil or allow them to live as they please and might eve participate
in sin also.

But the truth of the matter
is God cannot have fellowship with anything or anyone that does not share a
moral likeness to Himself. God cannot condone or have fellowship with anything
that is contrary to His nature.

So, John makes it very clear
from the beginning of His letter that there exists two, completely separate
spheres or realms that cannot be mixed in any way shape or form. Light and
darkness are two distinctly separate spheres that cannot be mixed. They do not
overlap.

The Christian life is viewed
as fellowship.

This claim to fellowship is
tested on practical grounds.

The first test by practical
grounds is that of the necessity of moral likeness.

The first truth that we learn
about this moral likeness is that:

God is the standard.

[1] George
G. Findlay, Fellowship in the Life
Eternal, An Exposition of the Epistles of St John, (1909; reprint ed.,
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), p. 96

Thursday, January 9, 2014

It’s Thanksgiving. Your mom is begging you for a Christmas list. If you don’t want that ugly sweater again you had better tell her something. Rather than muttering out something that you don’t really need, I want to invite you to ask for something lasting this Christmas.

I’m proposing that you pick one of these four Christians from the past and spend an entire year with them. Today, I will give you the names of the four men, and a list of books you should buy. In the coming weeks, if there is enough interest, I’ll give you a reading plan.

I have decided to participate in this challenge. Even though he said pick one Christian from the past I am going to pick two. The two men that I have picked are not on his suggested list. I have some books already purchased and not yet read. It don't think it would be a good idea to purchase more.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

"Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You [are] God, gracious and merciful." (Nehemiah 9:31, NKJV)This morning during my quiet time I was especially moved by the guide/tool that I use for giving adoration/praise to our glorious God.Today's suggestion for giving praise and adoration to God focused on God's mercy. The Scripture reference offered was Nehemiah 9:31. This reference seemed to go hand in hand with my passage of Scripture this morning, Luke 1:22-25. In that passage we see Elizabeth so eloquently offering praise/adoration to God for:"Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on [me] to take away my reproach among people." (Luke 1:25, NKJV)God is indeed a merciful God. He has been extremely merciful to me. "Lord God, I adore you and praise you! You truly are a merciful God."

Thursday, January 2, 2014

"I can begin each day with the deeply encouraging realization that I am accepted by God, not on the basis of my personal righteousness, but on the basis of the infinitely perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ."

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

This Blog, the Gospel-driven Disciples is closed today so that the owner of this blog can enjoy this holiday with his family and friends.Please resume reading and responding to this blog beginning tomorrow, January 2nd, 2014.Happy New Year to each and every one of you and all whom you love and cherish deep in your heart!

Welcome To the Gospel-driven Disciples Blog

Thank you for visiting the Gospel-driven Disciples Blog! We blog on a number of theological topics and issues. We blog for five specific reasons:

To exalt the glorious character of our Lord Jesus Christ

To expand a passion for the supremacy of God in all things

To expound the Scriptures in order to have an accurate understanding of the Word of God

To edify or build up our readers in the faith once for all time delivered to the saints

To expose readers to a variety of spiritually beneficial topics, books, articles, thoughts, and people

“…if you find anything here that serves to your furtherance and joy of the faith, impute that to the mercy of God bestowed on you and me. Yours to serve you with what little we have.”

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non sibi, sed Deo!

"Spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the glory of God and the joy of all people through Jesus Christ in Vancouver, Washington.